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Mapping the Moon at ASU

Posted: Mar 17, 2011 | 2 min 50 sec

The Moon has been well photographed over the years, but the images now are beginning to help scientists map the Moon.

In an unprecedented release of lunar images, NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Camera team at ASU, led by Mark Robinson, produces Moon maps for the science community. The biggest product, Robinson says, "is a global 100 meter-per-pixel black-and-white base map of the Moon, which will serve as a foundation of almost all research and planning projects for future exploration."

In order to get the best map product, the team selects images on a particular criteria that requires specific sun angles at specific points in rotation.